Works begin on new aquatic and angling club

CONSTRUCTION has begun on the new home of the Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club, with pile driving at Point Grey starting on Tuesday.

The original building was demolished last week and the site cleared. A date has not yet been set for the demolition of the Fisherman’s Co-operative building, which will also be replaced as part of the broader Point Grey redevelopment.

Access to the pier and a section of the Doug Stirling Track has been closed and will not reopen for at least two months.

The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) has rolled in heavy machinery to establish the club’s new foundations, with works to include concrete pumping and the installation of steel and timber.

Club commodore Keith Miller expressed his sadness on Thursday last week as the building that had stood for more than six decades was knocked down and cleared away.

“It only took one day to demolish the old girl,” he wrote on Facebook. “The magnificent old clubhouse gave countless locals and visitors 65 years of fun, fun and more fun!

“I’m sure our new one will also but it will never be quite the same.”

GORCAPA-managed crews will begin removing asbestos and other hazardous materials found in the former Co-Op building this week. The process is expected to take several weeks before any salvage work can begin.

Materials identified for reuse include bricks, steel framing, roof trusses, tiles, gantry beams and tram tracks.

GORCAPA has also preserved the memorial garden at Point Grey and will replant it as part of the finished precinct.

The pier and track closure, expected to remain in place until at least June, will allow for the strengthening of the revetment along the foreshore.

Locally sourced basalt, similar to what is already in place, will be repositioned and extended slightly to improve stability, reduce sand loss and enhance overall safety.